bailey



(No Model.) Q 5 Sheet-Sheet 1 E. H. BAILEY. I

. INGLINE PLANE FIRE ESCAPE. '7

No. 288,394. Patented Nov. 13, 1883. l

(Nd Modem 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' E. H. BAILEY.

INCLINE PLANE FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 288,394. r Patented Nov. 13, 18 83.

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N. PEIERS. Phuto-Lilhngmpllar. Wlnhiuginn. u. c.

5' Sheets-Sheet 3.

Patented Nov. 13, 18183.

E. H; BAILEY. I INGLINE PLANE FIRE ESCAPE.

(N o Model.)

' 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Patented Nov. -1 3 7 (N0 Modem 1 Wain asses.

Unrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EZRA H.- BAILEY, OF VV ASHIN GTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE CANVAS SLIDE FIRE ESCAPE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

INCLL-INE-PLANE FIRE-ESCAPE.

srncrrroa'rrolvrormm part of Letters was No. 288,394, dated November 13, 1883') Application filed January 3, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern/,-

Be it known that I, EZRA H. BAILEY, of WVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Canvas Slides; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the" art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form ing it suddenly unsafe, and from which a ready and expeditious means of exit is required; and it is an improvement upon that kind of escape in which aninclined plane of canvas or other fabric is employed. The invention is designed to make such form of escape more convenient, of quicker and more ready adjustment, and to adapt it to ready application and use at any part of a wall, and uponthe different walls of the house wherever andwhenever required. My apparatus admits of various applications and attachments, with the peculiar adjuncts thereof slightly modified, without departing from the spirit of my invention. The canvas or other fabric to be used as the inclined-plane escape is so arranged that it may be brought into immediate application and use at any part of the wall of the building, before any opening or Windowat different elevations, while at the same time means are provided for compactly and neatly storing it away and protecting it from rain and other injury. The fabric employed shouldpreferably be made fire-proof, especially that portion coming near the building when in use during afire. This is the upper section or end at tached to thebuilding, and suchsectionshould be made of double canvas; or the single canvas should be re-enforced with wire-clothor asbestus cloth, in order that it may stand the extra heat and wear at this portion.

Havingstated the general nature and object of thelinvention, I will now describe its specific construction and operation with reference to the accompanying draw in gs, inwhich of a portion of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front View,

showing the escape-canvas wound upon its roller and suspended by ropes from pulleys. Fig. 4 is a front view showing the escape-canvas unrolled and supported by ropes or cables and counterbalance-weights. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail, showing the mechanism for winding up the ropes connected to the roller supporting the canvas. detail of the box carrying out end of the roller. Fig. 7 shows the winding-crank. Figs. 8 and 9 are front views, showing, respectively, the escape-canvas applied as an awning and drawn up and stored under the eaves or. cornice of the house. Fig. 10 is a sectional view at right angles to Fig. 8, showing the lower end of the escape-canvas applied as an awning and resting on a frame. Fig. 11 is a front view, showing'the canvas in tapering form and the attaching devices. Figs. 12 and 13 are enlarged views of the attachments. Fig. 14 shows a sliding runner or chair to be used on the es cape-canvas. Fig. 15 is a front View, showing the escape-canvas with parallel sides, and connected to the window-sills by springs. 16 is a sectional detail view, showing a modified form of attaching-spring.

The escapecanvas A has its upper portion,

as indicated by a dotted line in Figs. 11 and 15, made of double thickness of canvas or other fabric, preferably of fire-proof material. The

single canvas may be re-enforced by wire-cloth or asbestus cloth, to resist the extra heat and wear at this portion, and the whole' canvas is preferably made fireproof by an artificial s0- 1ution,which may be made the subject ofa-separate application.

,in Figs. 11, 13, and 15, for holding and spreading' the escape when in use. The canvas may Fig. 6 is a sectional Fig.

The edges of canvas are-. strengthened and protected by heavy cordage be made with either parallel or inclined longitudinal edges. A tapering form with inclined edges is the most economical and answers the piece of canvas.

purpose of an escape very well, for the reason the middle portion sags when in use and bodies naturally tend thereto, thus making the full width at the lower end unnecessary.

The wings of canvas for fire-escapes have heretofore been used for the purpose of making the upper or house end of the canvas escapewider-than thelo wer or land end; but such wings are detachable and not made of the same What I desire to claim is an unbroken piece of canvas having double the width at the top or house end that it is at the lower end. By this method of cutting, onewide piece of canvas will make two of the canvas slide-escapes, and thus agreat saving and economy of material is produced, and at the same time the tapering slide-canvas has all the advantages of an escape having parallel sides.

The canvas is secured to the hollow roller B by glue, tacks, clamps, or cord lashings, as desired, and the rollers are providedat the ends withsolid journals 1), having square ends for receiving a winding-crank. (See Figs. 6 and 7.) I The solid journals are fitted in suitable hollow boxes, 0, with the square ends projecting through. Acircular flange or hub, 12, on the journal within the box 0 prevents undue lateral play and retains the box on the journal.

By means of the roller and journal fitting in the boxes, the canvas may be conveniently wound up into a compact roll by the crank X, Fig. 7,-or by a pulley and rope, as in Fig. 15. Metallic staples or eyes 0 are secured in the. tops of the boxes for attachment of the hoisting ropes or cables D, passing over suitable pulleys, (l, and such pulleys may be attached in fixed positions to the cornice or other portion of the house, or to travelers running on a rail or rod. A suitable traveler, F, with a hanger, f, is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 mounted upon a rail, G. A cover or hood, G, made of metal or wood, is secured above the rail for protecting the traveler and the escape when rolled and stored.

The protecting-hood G may be so constructed as to form an ornamental part of the cornice. It is obvious that the pulleys (I may be attached to rings upon a rod secured to the housewall, taking the place of the rail and traveler. The arrangement of pulleys attached to rings loose on a rod or shaft would answer well for any one wall, and would permit the escape to be moved laterally to the right or left over the front of the house. The rail running entirely around the house, where the different sides are accessible, is the better and preferred construction. Counterbalancingweights E are attached to any desired portion -'of the ropes or cables below the pulleys d, for

sustaining the escape as it is suspended from thepulleys, and permitting the canvas to yield slightly when a sudden weight is brought in contact with its upper surface, as when a person jumps from a window above down upon it. The raising and lowering ropes or cables may be manipulated by hand for raising or lowering the escape, or may be passed over suitable pulleys to a winding-drum or windlass mounted in a box, and having spur-wheel gearing, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

The winding-drum H is mounted in a box, H, and is provided with a spur-wheel, h, at one end, into which meshes the pinion h, and the handle w running on a rod, is provided for guiding the rope or cable over the drum as it is wound up. The crank X, used for winding up roller B, may also be used for winding up drum H.

Figs. 8 and 10 show the escape-canvas applied as an awning for protecting the lower windows and door from the sun. In this case only the lower'end of the escape is used, and such portion should be of fancy striped mate rial, andis spread over the usual supportingframe.

The main roll of the escape-canvas is suspended, as usual, by the ropes or cable D from pulleys d, and is protected by the hood or eaves G. In Fig. 9 the pulleys cl are attached to davits I, secured in the top of the house. In Figs. 15 and 16 are shown the springs Z Z, for attaching the roller of the escape to the window-sill or other convenient place. As shown, the springs may be either spiral or of flat-strap form, made of steel. These springs may be used above or in conjunction with the ropes, pulleys, and weights, and are for permitting the escape-canvas to yield when a weight is suddenly thrown upon it, thereby preventing injurious shock and jar.

A pulley, X, may be secured to one end of the journal 12 and be operated by a rope as a substitute for the crank X. This permits the rolling up of the escape while it is elevated.

Guide bars or ribs K, Fig. 4, may be secured vertically to the wall of the house for guiding the escape in its up and down movements.

WVhere asmall detachable escape is required, it is mounted at one end on a roller or bar,B, and is provided with peculiar attaching de vices for connecting it to a windowsill, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. The connecting mechanism, which is arranged for convenient and ready attachment or detachment,consists of a hook, L, having eye is, and a peculiar hook, M, having an eye, m, at one end, and an arm, on, projecting obliquely from the back of the hooked end. The hook M may be connected directly to the eye of hook L; or the two may be connected by a wire cable or a link or spiral spring, and the hook M is. connected to bar B by two or more links oratoggle-j oint. Through the medium of the arm m, the connected wire or cord 9, and by means of a quick jerk on the latter, the hook M may be disconnected from hook L, and the escape-canvas be thus detached and allowed to fall down when it has served its purpose in any one posi- IIO V tion, or when it is in danger of destruction by fire.

The above mechanism, as described and shown by Figs. 11 and 12, will form the subject-matter of a separate application.

7 in connection with an attached ropeor wire, 9,

SOUS.

for sliding bodies, invalids, orchildren down over the inclined-plane escape. It may of course be provided with guards at the sides.

The operation of the escape is obvious from the above description.

The incline-plane escape, constructed and operated according to this invention, forms one of the most successful and convenient means for saving life and property of any apparatus yet devised for such purposes. It is readily moved to any story of a building, and on account of its width affords a means of exit from several windows ina row or from one or more rows at the same time. In use it should be spread and stretched out from the base of the building in the form of an inclined plane, sagging sufliciently to retain a body falling within its edges. The winding of the canvas upon its roller and the raising and lowering of the roller to different elevations are operations readily understood and managed by unskilled per- The rods by which the canvas is suspended are preferably made hollow. v

I am aware that chutes provided with hoisting mechanism have been used, and therefore do not claim, broadly, such mechanism.

I am also aware that window-curtain fixtures having rollers and pulleys have been used; butsuch not being adapted to my purpose, I lay no claim to them.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A fire-escape canvas reenforced at its upper end and attached at said end to a hol' low roller or pipe, in combination with movable operating mechanism, and a trackw-ay for hoisting and removal to either side of a house or around the corner thereof, attached to the wall or top of a building.

. 2. An adjustable suspended fire-escape canvas attached to a hollow roller provided with trunnions, and mechanism fixed to the house,

in combination with pulleys and ropes or cables for raising it up or down.

3. In a fire-escape apparatus, a canvas at tached at its upper end to a roller having solid journal ends, in combination with the movable journal-boxes and mechanism for raising and lowering the boxes, together with the roller and canvas.

4.. In a fire-escape apparatus, the suspended roller and canvas provided at its lower end with guy-ropes, in combination with ropes or cables having counterbalancing-weights attached to their lower ends or portions, and means for connecting the ropes to the house and sup porting the canvas. i

5. 'The suspended hollow roller and canvas, in combination with a traveler and its rail adapted to run around the corner of the house and secured thereto, and intervening connecting and operating mechanism, whereby the escape-canvas may be shifted to the right or left on one wall and to different walls of the house, for the purpose described.

6. The escape-canvas, with its roller and journal-boxes and the raising and lowering devices attached to a building, in combination with the projecting hood or cover for sheltering the canvas when rolled up.

7. In an incline plane fire-escape apparatus,

.the roller B, having journal ends I), in combination with the suspended journal-boxes G and pulleys cl (1, secured to the top of a house,

and means, substantially as described, for

turning the roller and winding the attached canvas thereon, and hoisting mechanism, as described.

8. In a fire-escape apparatus, the roller hav ing grapple-hooks and springs, journal ends, and the suspended journal-boxes, in combination with a wheel or pulley attached to one of the journal ends, and an operating-rope passing over the pulley for rolling up and unrolling the canvas.

9. The suspended roller and attached esing-ropes and the spiral or flat springs for connecting the roller to the window-sill or other support.

10. The escape-canvas having a lower portion adapted to serve as an awning, in combi- I 5 nation with roller, suspending-ropes and pu1- leys, and an awning-frame, as described.

11. The escape-canvas having its upper portion made of double thickness of material such as one thickness of canvas, and a thickness I I0 of non combustible or asbestus c1oth-for strengthening and for standing the extra heat and wear at this portion, as described, and its lower end having guy-ropes, the said canvas varying in width throughout its length, as II5 cape-canvas, in combination with the suspend- IOO EZRA H. Barr-E re Q 

